14 Killed in Machala Prison Gang Clash

An early‑morning clash at the Machala men’s prison in El Oro province left 14 dead (13 inmates and one prison guard) and about 14 injured, police said. The attack involved guns, explosives, hostage‑taking and an explosive breach that allowed some inmates to flee; tactical units numbering nearly 300 (with later reports of 200 police and soldiers) retook the facility. Authorities blamed members of Los Lobos (Los Lobos Box), recaptured most escapees and seized firearms. The U.S. this month designated Los Lobos and Los Choneros as terrorist organizations to deepen cooperation against drug trafficking. Residents have long urged relocation of the city‑center prison, and officials say the riot underscores Ecuador’s wider crisis of gang‑run, overcrowded penitentiaries under heightened military control since January 2024.